DIY Sparkling Mermaid Lingerie Chest

Jen Burns
by Jen Burns
3 Materials
This might be my favorite project ever. So much so that I had to fight my daughter about her trying to stash it in her room. I decided to go outside of my norm and and use a little inspiration from a paper I found through Rifle Paper Co. It's gorgeous and the mermaids were my favorite. An amazing artist and friend had taken me under her wing showing me all the ins and out of blending and layering color. Maria Revallo is the creator and owner of M L Furniture Decor and teaches classes for her Bermuda Blending workshops. I knew I had to try this!
I prepped a vintage Henry Link lingerie chest by scrubbing down and doing a light sanding all over.
Then it was time to mix up a base color. Since this chest had laminate facing I needed a base color for my plan to work. I wanted a deep rich blue/green in a chalk/clay paint. CeCe Caldwell's was my natural choice for this as it's my favorite chalk/clay type paint.
I searched back over CeCe's old posts for Mixology Monday until I found the perfect color.....Manteo Blue. It's two parts Newport Navy to 1 part Thomasville Teal.
Once I had my base color I made up some sample boards with different colors of Unicorn SPiT Sparkling Gel Stain. I had originally planned on starting my first try at Bermuda Blending with something simple using just a base color and one color blended on top. Somehow what I plan and what I end up doing never meet up.
Using the CeCe Caldwells Manteo Blue, I did a good solid base coat and lightly sanded with 400 after it was dry.
Next I grabbed Unicorn SPiT Sparkling Gel Stain in Rock Chalk, Patina Peacock and Grace C Humming bird.
I gradually went over the entire piece blending the colors all over. I kept Patina Peacock as the focus color and used the other two to highlight and blend.
I scrubbed the hardware with a wire brush and barkeeper's friend before spraying one good coat of Plutonium Spray Paints in the color 1st Place. Plutonium is a high grade automotive lacquer that goes on in one coat and is amazing for hardware!
Easy peasy!
I carefully lined the sides of each drawer with the Mermaid pattern from Rifle Paper Co and spray adhesive. You can use something more permanent when doing the sides of drawers or do a dual spray on the paper/drawers allowing it to set 30 seconds before bonding.
I let everything dry overnight before doing a spray coat of Plutonium clear and then a few coats of Old Master's satin.
The Sparkle is so gorgeous and I absolutely love how it turned out.
It was hard to part with, but it went to a new home by the water.
Suggested materials:
  • Unicorn SPiT Sparkling Gel Stains   (www.unicornspit.com)
  • Cece Caldwell's Paints   (www.cececaldwell.com)
  • Plutonium Spray Paint   (www.plutoniumpaint.com)
Jen Burns
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Rus49722627 Rus49722627 on Oct 14, 2020

    Do you happen to have any idea what company manufacturered this? I have an identical piece but its a longer dresser. I couldn't find any stamps or markings unfortunately.

  • Foz Foz on Jan 13, 2021

    Hi! I wondered if you can help please? I've decoupaged a vintage dresser, but the drawers no longer fit! I suspect the wood has swollen from the wallpaper paste. Any tips on how I can remedy this situation other than removing the wallpaper please?

  • Foz Foz on Jan 13, 2021

    This is beautiful! Love the colours. I have decoupaged a vintage dressing table but now the drawers don't fit! I think the wood has swollen from the paste. Any ideas on how I can get it to fit other than simply removing the wallpaper. I've tried a dehumidifier to dry it out with no luck

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  • Sydney Lauren Schmidt Sydney Lauren Schmidt on Feb 23, 2018

    I plan to do this to my daughters wood wardrobe. However, it looks like Unicorn Spit no longer makes the colors you used :(

  • Dbfulmer Dbfulmer on Sep 16, 2022

    I have this complete set of furniture. It was my childhood furniture growing up. I have been wanting to update it and this is perfect.

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